Penalty point system set forth for 2013 season – MotoGP news
To limit the number of riding violations that takes place during Grand Prix rounds, and to ensure that sanctions imposed by official as a result of such violations, a new penalty point system is being introduced by MotoGP for the 2013 season.
In 2012, an increasing need was felt for a system that ensured the consistency of penalties imposed by officials. Numerous incidents were reported on which a penalty imposed was either too lenient or too harsh, especially in Moto2 and Moto3. The penalty
point system is an effort towards standardising the punishment that any rider gets on a violation.
According to the new penalty point system, officials can impose up to 10 penalty points, with restriction applied at certain points. As soon as the rider reaches 4 penalty points, he has to start the next round from the back of the grid. On reaching 7 penalty
points, the rider has to start the next round from the pitlane whereas 10 penalty points mean that the rider will be banned in the next Grand Prix round.
The official statement released by the Grand Prix Commission read, “It has been recognised that there is the need to address the problem of riders who are constantly being warned or penalised for endangering other riders or committing other serious offences
like assaulting marshals or other officials. To address this issue a new system of penalty points was approved. Race Direction can sanction a rider with a number of penalty points between one and 10. This can be instead of or in addition to any other sanction.”
Furthermore, according to the statement, once a rider has been sanctioned on reaching 10 penalty points, the points will be reset to zero. Also, penalty points are not carried to the following season.
In 2012, Marc Marquez, who later went on to claim the 2012 Moto2 World Championship, got a high-profile punishment from the officials following an incident that took place at the Australian Grand Prix. After the free practice session had concluded, Marquez
crashed into the back of Ratthapark Wilairot. As a result of this incident, Marquez was given a one-minute time penalty which ensured that Marquez would start the round from last on the grid. This was 2012 season’s highest-profile incident and punishment.
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